Recs?

[brigdh]

Whew, I'm so mood-swingy. But right now, I'm on the upswing, so everything is good.

I finally managed to find a store that carries the English translation of YnM, and I'm going to pick it up this evening. But they're having a "Buy 3 manga, get the fourth free" deal, so recommend some stuff to me. I already need to pick up Gravitation 7 and Initial D 13 (for my little brother), so what should the fourth be?

I don't want Fruits Basket or Petshop of Horror, which I've already tried, and I already have the entire series of Utena. I tried X/1999 and wasn't too taken, but maybe I could be convinced to try again if you really think I'd like it. Other than that, recommend anything! And I'm new to this whole anime/manga stuff, so go ahead and tell me even about the oldest, most well-known series.


Drabbles:
Take Action for the frottage challenge.
Rearranged for the role-reversal challenge, but, um. I'm really not suggesting you go read this, I'm just putting the link here for my own keeping. Did I mention the mood swings?

Comments

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Saiyuki! Trust me. ;)

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I'm not sure I'd recommend trying X/1999 again (I think you're better off trying the anime), but if they have Clover, I recommend that without reservation.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I've been haunting the local video store for the X/1999 anime. They have it, but the first DVD always seems to be checked out when I'm there, and I didn't want to start watching in the middle of the series. I've got to get lucky enough to catch it eventually.

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

When I tried my experiment in pimping X to a friend (which I need to write up one of these days), I actually started her off on Episode 9, which is on Disc 3, I think, for reasons similar to starting off potential Buffy converts with "Hush" instead of "Welcome to the Hellmouth"--it stands alone relatively well and it showcases some of the best aspects of the series, and if it hooks someone enough they can always go back to the beginning and play catch-up. (It doesn't hurt that Episode 9 is devoted to my favorite character. At this point I'm fond of the protagonist of X, poor bastard, but the first time through I thought he was an unmitigated brat for the first half of the series and kept watching for the beauty of the animation and the pleasure of the supporting cast.)

If you do find Disc One, *don't* watch Episode 0 -- this was an OVA made to arouse interest in the anime from the manga fans, evidently (probably to convince them to give it another shot after the horrorshow that was X: The Movie), and it has no plot and spoils most of the developments in the first 12 episodes.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

*nods* Thanks. I had heard horror stories about Episode 0 before, but I'd forgotten them. Since everyone seems to hate it so very much, it's probably much better that I remember not to watch it.

And out of curiosity, who's your favorite character?

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Sumeragi Subaru.

Terrible things happen to him under a cherry tree.

My friend: Okay, I've seen Yami, I know this: cherry trees bad.
Me: It's, like, the first rule of anime: If you see a tall, handsome, smiling man under a cherry tree in blossom, drop everything you're carrying and run like hell.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

Between Yami, X, and The Last Samurai, I'm becoming convinced that Japan consists entirely of cherry trees. Which are always blooming.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

It's because cherry blossoms symbolize the brevity of life.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I second that. I have a series of non-spoiler reviews which I can't find now because of the LJ memory-erasing glitch, but if you need to know more, here's a mildly spoilery review of the anime.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/animerecs/1895.html#cutid1

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! That's very helpful, actually. I'd heard that it was based on a Japanese/Chinese legend, and I'd been wondering if it might require more background knowledge than I have. But you make it seem quite interesting and accessibly.

And I see you've just watched Yami no Matsuei. I may have to stalk you. ;)

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Yes, I keep meaning to write it up, but I'm afraid if I do, coffee and ink won't. But feel free to stalk me anyway.

I got my memories back, by the way. Here's my Saiyuki posts, which track my increasing obsession. I started watching the anime before the manga was published in English, so they have notes on both. I've left out the ones with spoilers.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/rachelmanija/8159.html

http://www.livejournal.com/users/rachelmanija/8732.html

http://www.livejournal.com/users/rachelmanija/23569.html

http://www.livejournal.com/users/rachelmanija/36955.html

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thanks! You guys win; I did indeed end up buying the Saiyuki manga. I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure I'll like it.

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Yes, I keep meaning to write it up, but I'm afraid if I do, coffee and ink won't.

Hey! No fair.

Okay, I outlined a post, although I'm sure I've forgotten half of what I wanted to say, and I'll try to get to it tomorrow or today -- I've needed to do this post since July, but I've needed log Laurie Marks' last book since March, so that may take precedence.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

GOD, yes. It is crack.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

XD I love your icon of it, at least.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

I have two. XD

[kohakutenshi.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy Juvenille Orion, Naruto, Red River, Pita Ten...

I didn't really like X/1999 either, and Clover wasn't CLAMP's best work. Saiyuki...well...I'm fighting with liking that since my friends do.... >.<'

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oo, thanks for the recs!

I keep thinking that I should like X/1999, if only because every other person on the face of the planet does, and maybe I just should have given it more of a chance. But *shrugs* I've got enough things to occupy my time with. Maybe I'll try it another time.

[kohakutenshi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought the same thing, I usually feel what books I want to read, and I just never felt like reading X, until I figured I'd give it a shot. It took me fifteen minutes in the car (I read on my way to work while Dad drives) to get through the entire book. Too much action, not enough story. I hate that. And it kinda jumps in the middle. So, yeah...

But oddly enough I read a little more of Saiyuki (I try to give new stuff one book to prove it's okay), and I liked it. It's not the big thing most make out of it, but it's pretty cute. :)

[yukoma.livejournal.com]

I rec. Escaflowne. Seriously. Might be a little old...but still.
If you're looking for something Clampish I think You might like Clover.
If you're looking for something Gainax-Kare Kano/His or Her Circumstances
And...damn, there's just to much to rec. :p

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Ooo, well, thank you for those suggestions!

[eag.livejournal.com]

The Devil Ororon (or Ororon the Devil, I forget the English translation).

4 volumes long. I have it in Japanese. I really like the art, and the story's not too bad. It's also slashy.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

'Demon Ororon' I think is the one you mean. It looks very good, and I hadn't heard of it before. Thanks!

[eag.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Hope you like it, if you choose to get it. :)

[rubyd.livejournal.com]

HanaKimi <3 Or "For you in full blossom", where the girl dresses up as a boy to follow her sport idol to an all-boys school.

And I second "Kare Kano". :)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'd heard Kare Kano gets crazy at the end, though. Or was that only the anime?

[rubyd.livejournal.com]

I think that was only the anime, because they animated it and then ran out of manga to do so they effed up everything.

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

Hey, while this thing seems to be working: I'm not sure I agree with what seems to be the critical consensus on "Rearranged." It did work for me, despite the accuracy of what other people had to say about canon. I read it, I think, as coming several years down the road for them -- probably well after Kyoto -- and by then, I can see a situation where Tsuzuki has become so used to being able to rely on Hisoka's steadiness that he really doesn't know what to do about it on the rare occasion when something does push Hisoka to tears. It would have been different in the early days, of course, when Tsuzuki was still acting as something of a mentor, and fretting about how young Hisoka is. But later? I can easily see him becoming all too used to the idea that Hisoka never falls apart, so that his world threatens to come apart when it does happen.

Anyway, I liked it. Only last night my connection was dead, and I couldn't say so.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you. I'm so glad to hear that it did work for you, because I'd been starting to wonder if I had no grasp of characterization at all. It's really nice to hear that it did make some sense. ^^

[matsuei.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind LONG series, then go for Basara or Rurouni Kenshin (the latter of which has the advantage of lower prices, which will be nice when you're not getting a volume free). It's just that they're 27 and 28 volumes, respectively.

Otherwise, well, CLAMP School Detectives is Teh Cute and only 3 volumes long (although there are other related series as well).

Out of curiosity, how many volumes of PSoH did you read, and what turned you off? (Or did it have something to do with the fandom, which is insane?)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recs! Rurouni Kenshin I'ver had recommend a couple times to me. I'm defintely going to have to check it, if not right now, pretty soon. The other two look good as well.

I read, I think, the first four volumes of PSoH. I didn't get turned off so much as I didn't adore it quite enough to continue spending $10 a volume. Poor college student and all. The stories are cute and interesting and often scary, but the thing about a series that manages to get my complete and enternal love is always the characters. And PSoH isn't really about recurring characters so much as it is a series of Twilight-Zone like unconnected stories. Good stories, but that wasn't enough. Of course there's Count D and the police guy whose name I forget, but they're often secondary to the main action, and there's not much of a plot arc for them, or deepening of the characterizations. Unless that happens later in the series?

[moonsheen.livejournal.com]

Bleach. I will wholly recommend Bleach if you haven't come across it yet. It's an amusing off-beat series that doesn't get nearly as much attention as it deserves. Also for the YnM fan it's a fun alternative when it comes to Whacky Shinigami Antics! ...which at the same time STILL has a grouchy protagonist with the surname of Kurosaki. It also has what is singularly the COOLEST FEMALE LEAD I HAVE COME ACROSS IN MANGA. EVER. In short, worth a read. (and there's going to be an anime! Out in less than a month! My fangirl is not showing, swear!)

...also, hello!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

*grins* Hello!

Bleach, oooh. I know I've seen copies of that in stores, I just hadn't bothered to page through any of them before. Now I will have to. ^^ And hey, fangirling is fun. I should know, since I spend way too much of my own time doing it.

[goddessgrrrrl.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

I hope the mood swings get better... Take care hon.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs*